SOCIALISM IN EUROPE &

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

CLASS-IX
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• To know about the age of social change in Russia.

• To know in detail abouth the phases of the Rusdian
Revolution.
• To enquir about the February Revolution in Petrograd.
• To list the sequence of subsequent changes in the Russian
empire.
• To analyse the Global lnfluence of the Russian Revolution.
PAGE NO:- 25 THE AGE OF SOCIAL CHANGE
Q.Name 2 social reformers of lndia to speak about the significance of the
French Revolution.
Ans:-1) Raja Rammohan Roy
2)Derozio
LIBERALS, RADICALS AND CONSERVATIVES:-
Q. State the difference between liberals, radicals and conservatives.
Ans:-
Liberals:-
They wanted a nation which tolerated all religions.
They opposed the uncontrolled power of the dynastic rulers.
They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against the govt.
They argued for a representative elected parliamentary for of govt.,
subject to laws interpreted by all well trained judiciary that was
independent of rulers and officials.
However, they were not democrats.They didn't believe in Universal Adult
Franchies i.e. the right of every citizen to vote.
They felt that men of property should mainly have the vote.
They also didn't want the vote for women.
Radicals:-
They wanted a nation in which govt. was based on the majorit of a
country's population.
Many supported women suffragette movements.
They opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory
owners.
They were not against the existence of private property but disliked
the concentration of property in the hands of a few.
Conservatives:-
They were in opposition to the liberals and radicals. In 18th century,
the conservatives were in opposition to the idea of change.
By the 19th century, they accepted that some changes were inevitable
but believed that the past had to be respected and change had to be
brought about through a slow process.
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL CHANGE:-
Q. How did industrial revolution bring changes in the society?
Ans:-
1. It was a time of profound social and economic changes as new cities
came up, industries developed, railways expanded and revolution
occured.
2. Problems faced by workers ( men, women & children ):-
• Unemployment was common during low demand for goods.
• Housing and Sanitation problems.
3. Liberals and radicals believed in individual effort, labour, and.
enterprise.
4.Many working men and women who wanted changes in the world rallied
around the liberal and radical groups and parties in the early 19th
century.
5.In France, Germany, ltaly and Germany; theybbecame revolutionaries
and stareted overthrowing existing monarchs.
6.After 1815, Gisueppe Mazzini, an ltalian nationalist conspired with
others to achieve this in ltaly. Nationalists elsewhere read his writings.
THE COMING OF SOCIALISM TO EUROPE:-
Q. When did socialism become a well-known body?
Ans:-
• By the mid-19th century in Europe, socialism was a well known body of
ideas that attracted widespread attention.
• Socialists were against private property as it made the individuals only
concerned about their personal gain.
• So they campaigned that if the society as a whole took care of the
property, better focus can be given on collective interests of the people.
• Robert Owen (1771- 1858) built a cooperative community called New
Harmony in lndania (USA).
• In France, Louis Blanc (1813- 1882) wanted the govt. to encourage the
cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprisers.
• Karl Marx (1818- 1883) argued that industrial society was capitalist
which owned the capitals invested in factories were their and their profit
was produced by workers.
• The conditions of workers could not improve as long as this profit was
accumulated in the hands of private industrialists.
• Marx believed that to free themselves from the capitalist exploitation ,
the workers had to construct a radically-social society where all
property is owned socially (Communist Society).
• A communist society was the natural society of the future.
HOTS Q. Under which condition Nationalism spread in Europe.OR
Q.List the views given by socialists for the socialist society. OR
Q.What would be the basis of socialist society.
Ans:- All the points written above( Coming of Socialism in Europe )
SUPPORT FOR SOCIALISM:-
 By the 1870s, socialist idea spread through Europe.
 To coordinate their efforts the socialists formed an
international body - Second lnternational.
 Workers in England and Germany began to form associations
to fight for better living and working conditions.
They set up funds to help the members at the times of
distressand demanded a reduction of working hours and right to
vote.
In Germany, these associations worked closely with the Social
Democratic Party (SPD) and helped it win parliamentary seats.
In 1905, socialists and trade unionists formed a Labour Party in
Britainand a Socialist Party in France.
However, till 1914, socialists never succeding in forming a govt.
in Europe.
PAGE NO:-30 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Q. Which event is normally called Russian Revolution?
Ans:-
i. Socialists took over the govt. in Russia through the October
Revolution in 1917.
ii. The fall of monarchy in 1917 and the events of October are generally
called the Russian Revolution.
THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN 1914:-
Q. Describe the Russian Empire in 1914.
Ans:-
Territories under Russia:-
1. The Russian empire included the territory around Moscow. Besides
this the empire included Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of
Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
2.It stretched to pacific and comprised today's central Asian states as
well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbeijan.
Religions:-
1. The majority religion was Russian orthodox christianty.
2. The empire also included catholics, protestants, muslims and
buddhists.
Emperor:- In 1914, Tsar Nicholas ruled Russia and its empire.
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY:-

Q.State the economy and society of Russia on the eve of Russian .

Revolution.
Ans:-
About 85 % of the Russian empire's population earned their living
from agriculture.The cultivators produced for their markets as well as
for their own needs. Russia was major exporter of grains.
Peasants were divided into several groups. They were deeply
religious.
Except in few cases, they had no respect for mills. In Russia, people
wanted the land of the nobles to be given to them. Frequently they
refused to pay the rent and often murdered the landlords. In 1902, this
occured in large scale in South Russia and in 1905, occured all
throughout the Russia.
Q. How were the Russian peasants different from other European
peasants?
Ans:-The Russian peasants pooled together their land periodically
commune (mir) divided it according to the needs of the the individual
families.
Industries and the workers:-
 The prominent industrial regions were St. Peterburg and Moscow.
Many factories were set up in 1890 when Russian railway network was
extended and foreign investment in industries increased. Coal
production and iron-ste output also increased.
Most industries were private property of the industrialists. Govt.
supervised large factories to ensure minimum wages and limited hours
of work.
In craft units and small workshops, the working day was sometimes 15
hours compared with 10-12 hours of factories. Accomodation varied
from rooms to domitories.
Workers were divided into social groups. Some had strong links with
the villages from which they came and others settled in the cities
permanently.
Workers were divided by skill. Metal workers were considered
themselves as aristocrats among other workers. Their occupation
demanded more training and skills.
Women made up 31% of the factory labou force by 1914, but they were
paid less than men.
Divisions of workers showed themselves in dress and manner.
Some workers formed associations to help members in times of
unemployment and financial harships.
Despite divisions, workers united to stop work when they disagreed
with employers about dismissals or working conditions.
SOCIALISM IN RUSSIA:-
Q. Name 2 Political parties formed in Russia.
Ans:-a)Russian Social Democratic Party - 1898
b)Socialist Revolutionary Party - 1900
The Russian Social Democratic Party was formed in 1898 by socialists
and it respected the ideas of Marx. It set up a newspaper. Its objective
was to mobilise workers and organise strikes. But because of the
opposition of the govt., this party worked as an illegal association.
Socialists were active in the countryside through the late 19th century.
They formed the Socialist Revolutionary Party in 1900.
IT'S OBJECTIVES:-
• This party struggled for peasant's rights.
• It demanded that land belonging to the nobles shall be transferred to
the peasants.
Disagreement between Social Democrats and Socialist
Revolutionaries:-
• Social Democrats disagreed with Socialist Revolutionaries and
peasants.
• Lenin felt that peasants were not one united group.
• Some were poor whereas some were rich, some worked as labourers
whereas others were capitalists or employed workers.
Assembly of Russian workers formed in 1904.
On the question of policy and organisation, the party was divided into
2:- Bolshevik and Menshevik
BOLSHEVIK:-
It represented majority and was led by Lenin. Lenin thought that in a
repressive society like Tsarist Russia, the party should be disciplined and
should control the number and quality of its members.
MENSHEVIK:-
They were in minority. They thought that the party should be open to all.
A TURBULENT TIME : THE 1905 REVOLUTION:-
Q. Under which circumstances, 1905 revolution took place.
Ans:-
• Role of the liberals:-
The Tsar rulers in Russia were autocrats. They were not subjects to the
parliament. The liberal leaders in Russia started campaigning against the
Tsar autocracy.
• Support given to liberals:-
With the support of the Social Democrats and Socialist Revolutionaries,
peasants, workers; the liberals demanded a Constitution.
• Demand for a constitution:-
CONSTIUTION DURING REVOLUTION OF 1905:-
They were supported in the empire by nationalists in Poland. They were
also supported by the jadidists in muslim dominated areas who wanted
modern islam to lead their socities.
• Demand made by the workers:-
Prices of essetial goods rose quickly that real wages declined by 20%.
The membership of the workers association increased.
Around 110,000 workers in St. Peterburg went on a strike demanding:-
1. Reduction of working hours to 8 hours.
2. Increase in wages (income).
3. Development in working conditions.
• BLOODY SUNDAY AND THE 1905 REVOLUTION:-
On 9th January 1905, a mass of peacefull workers led by Father Gapon
reached the Winter Palace.
But when the procession reached there, it was attacked by the police
and the Cossacks. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 injured.
This event is known as Bloody Sunday. It led the outbreak of
revolutionary disturbances in Russia preparing for 1905 revolution.
It's Courses:-
Strikes took place all over the country. Universities were closed down.
Students staged walkouts and complained about the lack of availability
of Civic Liberties.
Lawers, doctors, engineers and other middle classe workers
established the Union of Unions and demanded a Constituent assembly.
It's Impact:-
 The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected conslutative parliament
or Duma.
After 1905 most committees and unions worked unofficially as they
were declared illegal. Severe restrictions were put on political activities.
The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days aand re-elected the
2nd session of Duma within 3 months. He didn't want any questioning
of his authority or in any reduction of his powers.
Tsar changed the voting law and packed the 3rd Duma with
conservative politicians. Liberal nationalists were kept out.
THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE:-
Q.How did Russian Revolution in the First World War make Tsar Nicholas-
ll unpopular ?
Ans:-
The joining of the Russia in the First World War proved fatal
for the war.
Anti-German Sentiments:-
• Anti-German sentiments ran high. It can be proved from the renaming of
St. Peterburg a German name as Petrograd.
• Tsarina Alexandra's German origins and a poor advisor like a mark
called Rasputin made the autocracy unpopular.
Losses suffered by Russian Gernmany:-
• Russia's army lost badly in Germany and Austria between 1914 and
1916. There were 7 million casualities by 1917.
Impact on Russian people:-
• As the Russian army retreated, they destroyed the crops and buildings
to prevent the enemy from being able to live off the land. The
destruction of crops and buildings led to over 3 million refugees in
Russia. The soldiers did not wish to fight such a war.
Impact on industries:-
• Russia's own industries were few in number. The country was cut of by
its supplier of lndustrial goods by German control of the Baltic Sea.
• lndustrial equipments disintegrated more rapidly in Russia. By 1916,
railway lines began to breakdown.
• Able bodied men were called upto the war. As a result, there were
labour shortages and small workshops producing essential goods
were shut down.
• SCARCITY OF BREAD:- Large supplies of grains were sent to feed the
army. As a result, people in the cities had to face scarcity of bread.
Russia faced riots at the bread shop by the winter of 1916.
PAGE NO:-35 THE FEBRUARY REVOLUTION IN
PETROGRAD
Q.Explain the course of the February Revolution. OR
HOTS Q.Under which circumstances, the rule of Tsar was
brought to an end ?
Ans:-
Strike organised by workers:-
On 22 February, a lock ot took place at a factory.The next day workers
in 50 factories called for a strike in sympathy.
Participation of women:-
In many factories women led the way to strike.Thus, this day came to
be known as lnternational Women's Day.
Demonstration by workers in the cities:-
Demonstrating workers crossed from the factory quarters to the center
of the capital- Nevskii Prospekt.
Imposition of Curfew:-
As the fashionable quarters and official buldings were surrounded by
workers, the govt. imposed a curfew. Demonstrators dispersed by the
evening but they came back on 24th and 25th. The govt. called out the
cavalry and police to keep an eye on them.
The govt. tried to control the situation and called the cavalry once
again. However, the cavalry refused to fire on the demonstrators.
Formation of Soviet:-
By the evening, the soldiers and working class on strike had gathered to
form a 'Soviet' or 'Council' in the same building as Duma met. This was
called Petrograd Soviet.
SOVIET:- Councils of worker's representatives and Soviets of peasants
were also formed.
AFTER FEBRUARY:-
Result accompined by the February Revolution:-
ABDCTION OF THE THRONE:-
 A delegation met the Tsar military commanders. It advised Tsar
to abdict. Tsar followed the advice and abdicted the trone on
2nd March.
FORMATION OF PROVISIONAL GOVT.:-
Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a provisional govt. to
run the country.
It was decided that Russia's future would be decided by a
Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of Universal Adult
Suffrage. So finally the February Revolution brought an end to
the monarchy in USSR in 1917.
Steps taken by the provisional govt. :-
• Army officials, landowners and lndustrialists were influential
were influential towards the provisional govt.
• The liberals as well as socialists among them worked towards
an elected govt.
• Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
• Soviets like Petrograd Soviet were everywhere. But no common election
system was formed.
Lenin and his April Thesis:-
Q. State the importance of April Thesis.
Ans:- The Bolshevik leader Lenin returned from his exile to Russia. He
announced his April Thesis which announced:-
1. War should be brought to an end.
2. Lands to be transferred to the peasants.
3. Banks to be nationalised.
Q. Under which circumstances the second phase of Russian Revolution
took place?
Ans:-
Declaration of April Thesis:-( Written earlier)
Workers Movement:-
• Through the summers, the worker's movement spread in lndustrial
areas. Factory committees were formed which began questioning the
way industrialists ran their factories. Trade Unions were formed.
• Soldiers committee was formed in the army. Around 500 soviets sent
their representatives to an All Russian Congress of Soviets.
Steps taken by Provisional govt. :-
i. It resisted attempts to run factories by workers.
ii. Began arresting leaders.
iii. Popular demonstrations carried out by Bolsheviks in July 1917 were
supressed.
THE REVOLUTION OF OCTOBER 1917:-
Steps taken by Lenin:-
In September, Lenin began discussion for an uprising against the govt.
Bolshevik supporters in the army, factories and soviets were brought
together.
In 16th October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and
Bolshevik party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. A Military
Revolutionary committee was appointed by the soviet undwr Leon
Trotskii to organise the seizure.
The uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerenskii sent
military men loyal to govt. They seized the buildings of 2 Bolshevik
newspapers. Pro govt. troops were sent to take over telephone and
telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace.
In reaction to it, the Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its
supporters to seize the govt. offices and arrest ministers. The shop
Aurora shelled the Winter Palace. Other vessels sailed down Neva and
took various military points.
Finally the city was brought under the control of the committee. The
ministers had surrendered. At a meeting of the All Russian Congress
of Soviets, majority accepted the Bolshevik action and the Bolshevik
controlled Moscow-Petrograd area.
PAGE NO:-39 WHAT CHANGED AFTER OCTOBER?
Q. List the consequences of Russian revolution.
Ans:- Consequences of Russian revolution are:-
Abolition of private property:-
Most banks and industries were nationalised in November 1917.
As a result the govt. took over the ownership and management.
Seizure of land by peasants:-
Land was declared social property. Peasants were allowed to seize
the land of the nobility.
Banning of old titles:-
The new govt. banned the use of old titles of autocracy.
Changing of uniform:-
The new govt. designed new dresses for the army and officials.
The hat of the soviet was known as Budeonovka.
Renaming of the party:-
The Bolshevik party was renamed as Russian Communist Party
(Bolshevik).
Dismissal of the Constituent Assembly:-
In Nov 1917, the Bolsheviks conducted the elections to the Constituent
Assembly, but they failed to get the majority support. In January 1918, the
assembly rejected the Bolshevik measures and Lenin dismissed the
assembly on the ground that the All Russian Congress of Soviet was
more democratic than an assembly elected in uncertain conditions.
Peace with Germany:-
The Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest Litovsk.
Domination of the Bolshevik party:-
• The Bolshevik party became the only party to participate in the election
to the All Russian Congress of Soviet which became the parliament of
the country.
• Russia became a one-party system.
• Trade unions were kept under party control.
• The secret police (called the Cheka first and later called OGPU & NKVD)
punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks.
• The new govt. encouraged experiments in the arts and architecture. But
many were dissatisfied as the censorship of the party encouraged.
Formation of Soviet:-
The new govt. formed the Soviet Union (USSR) - a state that was created
from the Russian empire in 1922.
THE CIVIL WAR:-
Q. Under which circumstances did the Civil War take place in Russia?
Ans:-
Opposition to Bolshevik uprising:-
Non Bolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy
condemned the Bolshevik uprising. Their leaders moved to South Russia
and organised troops to fight the Bolsheviks ( called the Red Army).
During the 1918 and 1919 the socialist revolutionaries (referred as
Greens), pro-Tsarists (referred as Whites) controlled most of the
Russian empire.
Support of Foreign Troops:-
The non-Bolshevik socialists were backed by French, American,
Japanese and British troops.
They were worried at the growth of socialism in Russia.
Civil War:-
The Bolshevik and the non-Bolshevik backed by foreign troops fought a
Civil War.
As a result, looting and famine became common.
No support to non-Bolshevik:-
Supporters of private property among whites took harsh steps with
peasants who had seized land.
That led to the loss of popularity of the non-Bolshevik.
The Bolsheviks succeded to have cooperation with non-Russian
nationalists and Muslim jadidists.
MAKING A SOCIALIST SOCIETY:-
Q.What steps were taken by the new govt. for the making of a socialist
state?
Ans:-
Nationalisation:-
Industries and banks were nationalised.
Peasants were permitted to cultivate the land that had been socialised.
Bolsheviks used confiscated land to demonstrate what collective work
could be.
Centralised planning:-
The new govt. introduced centralised planning.
USSR adopted the first series of its Five Year Plan.
IT'S lMPACT:-
The govt. fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during
the first 2 plans (1927-1932 and 1933-1938).
Centralised planning led to economic growth. Industrial
production increased ( between 1929 and 1933) by 100% in
the case of oil, coal and steel.
New factories and cities came into being.
An extended schooling system was developed. Provisions
were made for factory workers and peasants to enter into the
universities.
Creches were established in factories for the children of
women workers.
Cheap public health care was provided. Model living quarters
were set up for the workers.
STALINISM AND COLLECTIVISATION:-
Q.How did Stalin contribute to the introduction of collectivisation
in Russia ?
Ans:-
After the death of Lenin in 1924, Stalin headed the Bolshevik
party. He introduced Collective farms. It was also referred to as
state- controlled large farms.
Reasons behind it's introduction:-
• It was argued that grain shortages were partly due to the small
size of land holdings. After 1917, land had been given over to
peasants.
• These small sized peasant farms could not be modernised. To
develope modern farms and run then along industrial lines with
machinery it was necessary to eliminate 'Kulaks' (well to do
peasants) and take away land from peasants and establish state
controlled large farms.
So, under these circumstances collectivisation was introduced.
Steps taken under collectivisation:-
• From 1929, the party forced all peasants to cultivate in
collective farms.
• The land and implements were transferred to the ownership of
collective farms. Peasants on the land and the Kolkhoz profit
was shared.
Reactions of the peasants:-
• This party enraged the peasants and they resisted the
authority and destroyed their livestocks.
Steps taken against peasants:-
• The peasants who resisted collectivisation were punished
severely. Many were deported and exiled.
• Stalin's govt. allowed some independent cultivation, but
treated those cultivators unsymphathetically.
Q. In which year bad harvest took place ? What was its impact?
Ans:-Bad harvest took place in between 1930-1933. It led to one of the
most devastating famines in Soviet history when over 4 million died.
Opposition in the party:-
• Many within the party criticised the confusion in industrial production
under planned economy and the consequences of collectivisation.
• Stalin and his supporters changed these critics with conspiracy against
socialism.
• Accusations were made throughout the country. By 1939, over 2 million
were in prisons or labour camps.
• Most were innocent of the crimes, but no one spoke for them. A large
number were forced to make false confessions under torture and were
executed. Several among them were talented professionals.
PAGE NO:-46 THE GLOBAL INFLUENCE OF THE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND THE
USSR
Q. How did success of Russian Revolution put Global lnfluence ?
Ans:-
Opposition:-
Several existing socialists party in Europe did not wholly approve
the way the Bolshevik took power.
Formation of Communist Parties:-
The possibilty of worker's state fired the people's imagination across
the world. Communist Parties were formed - Communist Party of Great
Britain.
Support to colonial rule:-
The Bolsheviks encouraged the colonial people to follow their
experiment of scientific patter of the society as well as to fight against
the European imperalism.
Support of Non-Russian to Russian:-
Many Non-Russians from outside USSR particiapted in the conference
of the People's of the East (1920) and the Bolshevik founded
Cominteren (an international union of Pro-Bolshevik Socialist Parties).
Education in USSR:-
Some recived education in the USSR's Communist University of the
workers of the govt.
Criticism for the govt. of USSR:-
By 1950s, it was acknowledged within the country that the style of govt.
in USSR was not in keeping with the ideals of Russian Revolution.
In the World Socialist Movement too it was recognised that all was not
well in the Soviet Union. It was also criticised that the govt. in USSR had
demanded the essential freedoms to its citizens and carried out its
developmental programmes through repressive policies.
By the end of the 20th century, the international reputation of the USSR
as a Socialist country had declined though it was recognised that
socialist ideas still enjoyed respect among the people.
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